When the Rev. Byeong-ho Choi was hired by the Korean Church of Lehigh Valley last August, no sign designated the building as a Korean church.

Even after 17 years at their Whitehall location, members had feared discrimination from neighbors and did not want to publicize their ethnicity.

But nine months after taking the job, Choi convinced church elders their fears were unwarranted and a sign would improve the Presbyterian church's standing in the community.

"It was time to set up the church's sign," said Choi, a 39-year-old Korean immigrant whose near-perfect English hides the fact that he has been in the United States just nine years. "In the 21st century, there will be no ethnic groups at all. Everyone will be mixed."

In the two months since the sign was erected on the front lawn, there have been no incidents of discrimination. And perhaps more importantly, Choi said, the church has been accepted by the community, its congregation invited into many multicongregrational events.

"It is time to develop a relationship with other communities," he said.

Choi came to the church with his wife, Hyunkyung, and two sons, Jonathan, 8, and Joseph, 2, about a year ago. In that time, Choi has transformed a traditional congregation with financial difficulties into a pioneering group with plans for expansion to accommodate the influx of members.

He came to a church where half the members were speaking English as a first language, but all the services were in Korean. For that reason, Choi said many interracial couples and second-generation Korean-Americans did not attend services.

He also saw a church with a weak spiritual base, with more members attending the church for purposes of socialization than prayer.

"This congregation had a lack of discipleship," Choi said. "They were enjoying the social relationship more than the spiritual relationship."

To remedy these problems, Choi added weekly services in English and daily early-morning prayer sessions. Since then, attendance has almost doubled with 150 people attending the Korean service, 30 to 50 people attending the English service and about 75 children and teens attending Sunday school, Choi said.

Choi also discovered that people from other Asia countries as well as Latinos are being drawn to the English service. "They feel more comfortable in a Korean church," he said, adding, "I want to build a multicultural church."

The result of Choi's efforts, church members say, is a happier and more dedicated congregation.

"He brought so many new ideas. He's completely devoted to God and the people," said Dr. Soong Lee, a church elder who lives in Reading. "I can see the people. They are more happy to come to our church. They work for the church."

"I was kind of negative on his views," said Ho Y. Park, a church elder from Allentown. "But a year later, I really support his ideas. He was able to settle down the church."

For many Korean immigrants, Korean churches serve the dual function of religious center and social outlet. When Koreans move to the Lehigh Valley area, Choi said, members of a Korean church will be among the first to welcome them.

"The Korean people have church-centered communities," he said. "The church is not only a worship place, but (is) also a community center."

Even non-Christian Koreans who come to the area tend to gravitate to churches, simply because their native religion -- often Buddhism -- is not well-represented in the Lehigh Valley.

Presbyterian churches are often the beneficiaries of such conversions, according to Harvey Johnson, executive presbyter of the Lehigh Presbytery, which overseas church activities for eight counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.

"Most of our growing new churches in the past 10 years have been Korean churches," Johnson said. "They like the structure and the careful attention to order. We're able to respond to the cultural needs of a different people and try to form relationships that are meaningful to their culture."

Presbyterianism has been very popular in Korea as well, according to Clifton Kirkpatrick, who as former director of worldwide ministries for the central Presbyterian Church oversaw missionary visits to the country. In fact, Kirkpatrick said, more Presbyterians live in Korea than in the United States.

Choi said about 25 percent of all Koreans in Korean are Christian with the majority belonging to the Presbyterian Church. He said it was the work of a missionary doctor -- whom he called Dr. Allen -- that lead to the religion's growth there.

In the 1880s, Dr. Allen provided medical cared to the king's daughter, resulting in a royal acceptance of Presbyterians in the country.

Kirkpatrick agreed, saying, "There was a lot of focus on the indigenous leadership from the very beginning."

To Choi, all of his hard work pays off when he sees the community spirit displayed at the weekly Sunday luncheons held at the church.

"The luncheon is an intimate fellowship. Everybody enjoys it," he said. "I'm enjoying my life. It is the greatest joy."